Suggest a Rule Change

[Rowls]

Here's my suggestion:

As soon as a goal is scored a timer starts.

The team who has scored can celebrate for as long as they like and they can celebrate in the opponent's half as everybody does these days.

However, when the timer gets to 45 seconds the opposition can kick off, whether the scoring team are back in their own half or not.

[Newcastleclaret93]

All games played in domestic cup competitions must feature at least 5 U23 players.

[Andreshotboots]

Here's my suggestion:

As soon as a goal is scored a timer starts.

The team who has scored can celebrate for as long as they like and they can celebrate in the opponent's half as everybody does these days.

However, when the timer gets to 45 seconds the opposition can kick off, whether the scoring team are back in their own half or not.

Can’t see that being practical to implement with VAR. Some goals require lengthy checks, some don’t, so it would be very difficult to start any timer.

I personally would like to see the timekeeping taken away from the referees, similar to rugby, and for it to be kept more accurately. How many times are we baffled by the 6 minutes of added time from nowhere, or after 3 goals, 4 substitutions and 3 injuries there’s 2 minutes added?

[Newcastleclaret93]

Can’t see that being practical to implement with VAR. Some goals require lengthy checks, some don’t, so it would be very difficult to start any timer.

I personally would like to see the timekeeping taken away from the referees, similar to rugby, and for it to be kept more accurately. How many times are we baffled by the 6 minutes of added time from nowhere, or after 3 goals, 4 substitutions and 3 injuries there’s 2 minutes added?

Your completely right, added time is completely pointless. It never accurately represents the down time in a game.

Pretty sure Burnley broke the record last season for the ball only being in play for 46 mins in a 90 min premier league game. I imagine the added time was 2min haha

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Do away with added time.
Just stop the clock for each stoppage and restart when play resumes.
That includes subs, fouls, throw-ins etcs.

That way we don't have to put up with Fergie time, probably less time wasting via dives and goals conceded in the 95th min etc.
It's contentious anyway as to when the whistle is blown, so let's just get rid of it.

[elwaclaret]

Linesman flag when a player is offside not when he’s told to or the move ends… stop half the uncertainty and help prevent serious injuries as players pull every tendon trying to prevent a ‘goal’.

[Petersa]

Add to that the timekeepers clock should be connected and visible on the big screen for the sake of transparency and accountability....no more "Fergie time" or "Pawson time" to allow Arsenal to score from a corner!

[Quickenthetempo]

To stop time wasting subs.

Don't stop the game, just let the sub on as soon as the player he is replacing leaves the field. They will sprint over then. The 4th official can deal with that.

[claretburns]

The 7 teams to qualify for Europe then don't enter the league cup the following year. Their places are taken by the top 5 teams from the National League who weren't promoted and the two relegated from League Two the season before.

Gives smaller clubs the chance of cup runs, day out at Wembley, winning a trophy qualifying for Europe etc.

And helps the clubs in Europe by reducing the amount of games if they don't need to participate.

[Bosscat]

Linesman flag when a player is offside not when he’s told to or the move ends… stop half the uncertainty and help prevent serious injuries as players pull every tendon trying to prevent a ‘goal’.

Agreed ... if its obviously offside and many times it is (and like you say what would happen if a player gets hurt) stick the bloody flag up ... keep the flag down if its tight, and let VAR sort it out ...

[Targetman]

The 7 teams to qualify for Europe then don't enter the league cup the following year. Their places are taken by the top 5 teams from the National League who weren't promoted and the two relegated from League Two the season before.

Gives smaller clubs the chance of cup runs, day out at Wembley, winning a trophy qualifying for Europe etc.

And helps the clubs in Europe by reducing the amount of games if they don't need to participate.

I thought that was the idea of the league cup, it's for football league clubs only hence the title.....
Football League Cup.

[Hipper]

To stop time wasting subs.

Don't stop the game, just let the sub on as soon as the player he is replacing leaves the field. They will sprint over then. The 4th official can deal with that.

Players to be subbed will simply go down injured.

[Hipper]

Linesman flag when a player is offside not when he’s told to or the move ends… stop half the uncertainty and help prevent serious injuries as players pull every tendon trying to prevent a ‘goal’.

As the rules are currently, a player in an offside position is not committing an offence, only when he is involved in play.

[boatshed bill]

Just go back to the original rules.

[martin_p]

Every rule change and technology innovation in football in the last 40 years is abandoned apart from 3 points for a win, the back pass rule and goal line technology.

[Tall Paul]

I thought that was the idea of the league cup, it's for football league clubs only hence the title.....
Football League Cup.

If it's for Football League clubs only why are Premier League clubs in it?

[Hipper]

Can’t see that being practical to implement with VAR. Some goals require lengthy checks, some don’t, so it would be very difficult to start any timer.

I personally would like to see the timekeeping taken away from the referees, similar to rugby, and for it to be kept more accurately. How many times are we baffled by the 6 minutes of added time from nowhere, or after 3 goals, 4 substitutions and 3 injuries there’s 2 minutes added?

I think quite often a lot of these apparent time keeping inconsistencies are actually logical - not all of course before you weigh in with some examples!

Your idea has some merit for the likes of the Premier League, with a full set of officials, but at park level it's not realistic. Remember the Laws are there to govern football at all levels.

The fourth official would seem the obvious candidate for time keeping, at least for events like substitutions, perhaps injuries. However for time wasting he seems less able as it's really a referee's decision whether time wasting occurs or not. For this reason, rather then have two officials involved, I still think it is better to leave it in the referee's hand and for the authorities to try and develop or implement some clear guidelines.

[Hipper]

Just go back to the original rules.

'In the opinion of the referee.....' ?

[MACCA]

EVERY time Blackburn Rovers kick off the opposition are instantly rewarded with 1 goal....

The rule can be changed back in 5 years after a season playing the likes of Prescott Cables and such like.

[minnieclaret]

A stop clock is football’s number 1 priority. 10 second run on, for all re-starts, then stop it.
Flying subs is number 2. The farce at the US World Cup with John Aldridge not getting on because the paperwork wasn’t sorted should have brought this change in many years ago.

[dsr]

~Two rules for time wasting.

One - as soon as a team is seen to be time wasting, the referee reverses the decision - so a goal kick becomes a corner, a free kick becomes a free kick the other way, and so on. Possibly preceded by a "team warning" like they have in rugby league.

Two - subs - once the board goes up, the subbed player has 20 seconds to leave the field, in any direction. If he isn't off in 20 seconds, then the sub can't come on until the next break in play. They could even put the timer into the subs board, with a buzzer when time's up.

[martin_p]

If football gets a stop clock then games will last 2-3 hours, it’s the last thing football needs!

[basil6345789]

Just go back to the old rules when I started out in the 60's

[Targetman]

If it's for Football League clubs only why are Premier League clubs in it?

As I'm sure you are aware, the Football League incorporated 92 league clubs in 4 divisions.
The Football League Cup is still exclusively for those 92 clubs as opposed to the FA Cup which is open to non-league teams affiliated to the FA.

Although those 4 divisions now all have different titles the League Cup remains exclusive to the 92 elite football clubs in this country.

Hope that answers your question.

[Claret]

I’ve said this many times:
If a player is feigning injury then he is taken to one side and actually given the injury he was feigning.

[dibraidio]

Just go back to the original rules.

Rule 8: If a player makes a fair catch he shall be entitled to a free kick, provided he claims it by making a mark with his heel at once; and in order to take such kick he may go as far back as he pleases, and no player on the opposite side shall advance beyond his mark until he has kicked.

[Burnley Ace]

Defenders have to show an intent to play the ball (when trying to let it run out for a goal kick) or it’s a free kick for obstruction.

A throw in by the corner flag needs to be taken by the flag, not 15ft further up the pitch

Time keeper should have a positive negative colour and the team in positive gets the option of taking the wasted time. A team that has been wasting time all match, but then conceded a last minute goal, shouldn’t then benefit from 5 mins added time to go for an equaliser.

[Tall Paul]

As I'm sure you are aware, the Football League incorporated 92 league clubs in 4 divisions.
The Football League Cup is still exclusively for those 92 clubs as opposed to the FA Cup which is open to non-league teams affiliated to the FA.

Although those 4 divisions now all have different titles the League Cup remains exclusive to the 92 elite football clubs in this country.

Hope that answers your question.

So it's not for Football League clubs only then and you were wrong to say it is.

Glad we've cleared that up.

[Quickenthetempo]

Players to be subbed will simply go down injured.

Then leave them on the floor. The sub can't come on until he leaves the field.

[boatshed bill]

Rule 8: If a player makes a fair catch he shall be entitled to a free kick, provided he claims it by making a mark with his heel at once; and in order to take such kick he may go as far back as he pleases, and no player on the opposite side shall advance beyond his mark until he has kicked.

Isn't that Rugby?

[duncandisorderly]

No subs past 75 minutes in normal games, no exceptions.
One sub allowed per side in extra time where relevant.

The lowest ranked team at the time of the draw will play FA Cup games at their home ground.

Make the League Cup for the 72 league teams only. No europe, but winner gets promoted taking the place of the 2nd placed team. The 2nd placed team gets a bye to their leagues play off final and the play off berth is increased by 1 to accommodate in a three game, single leg competition.
(2nd placed straight to wembley - 3rd plays 6th at home, 4th plays 5th at home, winners play each other to see who goes to the final)

[RMutt]

Defenders have to show an intent to play the ball (when trying to let it run out for a goal kick) or it’s a free kick for obstruction.

A throw in by the corner flag needs to be taken by the flag, not 15ft further up the pitch

Time keeper should have a positive negative colour and the team in positive gets the option of taking the wasted time. A team that has been wasting time all match, but then conceded a last minute goal, shouldn’t then benefit from 5 mins added time to go for an equaliser.

The ‘shepherding the ball out’ thing is an odd one. Often it’s just plain old obstruction. Players wouldn’t get away with it in the middle of the pitch half as many times.

[dibraidio]

Isn't that Rugby?

Nope the original football league rules established in 1863 by the FA.
A Fair Catch:
Is when the ball is caught after it has touched the person of an adversary, and before it has touched the ground or one of the side catching it; but if the ball is kicked from behind the goal line, a fair catch cannot be made.

[RMutt]

What about one to help the refs? Only the captain can speak to the ref unless the ref has spoken to a player first. What do the refs among us think? Would you prefer to keep the ‘banter’?

[boyyanno]

Not really rule changes but it would be nice for them to actually enforce some rules that already exist.

For example I lose count of the amount of times I see a goalkeeper leave the area when taking a goal kick from their hands. Only marginally but the other weekend someone scored from one and I'm sure the keeper was out of the box when he kicked it.

The other one is stealing yards, how hard is it to ensure a throw-in is taken from the right position?

[Claret]

EVERY time Blackburn Rovers kick off the opposition are instantly rewarded with 1 goal....

The rule can be changed back in 5 years after a season playing the likes of Prescott Cables and such like.

This is completely unnecessary as the Rovers team will always gift a goal or two to the opposition

[claretandy]

Bring in "Umpires call" for offside, if the linesman doesn't flag, and it's marginal, then the goal stands.

[boatshed bill]

Nope the original football league rules established in 1863 by the FA.
A Fair Catch:
Is when the ball is caught after it has touched the person of an adversary, and before it has touched the ground or one of the side catching it; but if the ball is kicked from behind the goal line, a fair catch cannot be made.

I probably wouldn't want that one back then
As posted above, the backpass to the 'keeper needed changing and goal-line technology has improved the game.

[Rowls]

Not really rule changes but it would be nice for them to actually enforce some rules that already exist.

For example I lose count of the amount of times I see a goalkeeper leave the area when taking a goal kick from their hands. Only marginally but the other weekend someone scored from one and I'm sure the keeper was out of the box when he kicked it.

The other one is stealing yards, how hard is it to ensure a throw-in is taken from the right position?

A very good point boyyanno - proper enforcement of existing rules would make an immediate improvement to the game without any rule changes necessary.

The 6 second rule for goalkeepers would be a good start on this matter.

[ecc]

"Defenders have to show an intent to play the ball (when trying to let it run out for a goal kick) or it’s a free kick for obstruction"

Yes, yes and yes again!

[fatboy47]

Injuries.

Play only stops when player requires treatment, in a position where its not practical to play on. Said player subsequently leaves field for mandatory 4 mins recovery time.

Players who appear badly hurt in tackles etc (howling/rolling around) leave field for the same amount.

[Wile E Coyote]

Arsenal to be docked 10 points every season for no particular reason.

[houseboy]

Sendings off for feigning a foul. If VAR says no foul then a player rolling around like a pole axed cow should be sent off.

[houseboy]

Arsenal to be docked 10 points every season for no particular reason.

What a ridiculous post. It should be 20.

[claretabroad]

Fa cup semi finals should go back to an equidistant neutral ground with sufficient capacity. Moving them to Wembley was one of the reasons the cup has been devalued.

A player is only offside if a part of their body that can legitimately score a goal is offside. None of this arms or hands nonsense.

Multiball!

[Blatherwickstattoo]

Offside means a full stride offside .. not a toenail

When defenders obstructs a striker when the balls running out it should be a foul like anywhere else on the pitch should they do that.

Wage caps.

8 of every match day squad should be homegrown or from the clubs accademy.

Referees should give post match interviews

Ban calsberg lager from all football grounds

[SalisburyClaret]

If a player tries to prevent himself being tackled by putting his arms out - then you are permitted to break those arms

[fidelcastro]

No VAR.

[Targetman]

So it's not for Football League clubs only then and you were wrong to say it is.

Glad we've cleared that up.

Wow!! Do you know the meaning of the word pedantic?

[minnieclaret]

Defenders have to show an intent to play the ball (when trying to let it run out for a goal kick) or it’s a free kick for obstruction.

It is still obstruction, does that still exist?, if the ball is not in playing distance yet game after game players get away with this. Can’t remember the last time I saw one given.